(08/02/04 Supersedes all previous instructions )

Transcription

1 Comcork Flooring Installation Instructions (08/02/04 Supersedes all previous instructions ) 1. Important Information 1 2. Experienced Contractors & Relevant Standards 1 3. Subfloors Concrete Subfloors Timber Subfloors Particle Board Subfloors Steel, Aluminium, Fibreglass Subfloors 2 4. Under-Floor Heating Existing Floors Acrylic adhesion installation Epoxy and Polyurethane adhesive installation New Floors 3 5. Adhesives Primers 4 6. Installation Site Acclimatisation Dry Laying - Assessing for Colour & Texture Variation Ashlar Pattern Butt Joints Rolling Removing Excessive Adhesive Installation Using Epoxy Adhesive 5 7. Adhesive Bonding Time Acrylic adhesives Epoxy and Polyurethane adhesives 5 8. Point Loading 5 9. Sharp Objects Seam Sealing Approved Seam Sealing Protecting The Floor After Laying Maintenance & Surface Dressing Comcork Flooring Tactiles Appendix 14.1 Approved Adhesive List Approved Seam Sealers Contact Details 9

2 Comcork Flooring Installation Instructions This document sets out the installation instructions for Comcork Flooring in either smooth or interrupted profiles: Comcork Walk Easy surface profile Comcork Low Profile surface profile Comcork PolyCork surface profile Comcork AquaDeck surface profile - smooth profile, general purpose - slightly raised small round stud - significantly raised large round stud - significantly raised small stud in either diamond or round pattern Comcork Tactiles ( Tactile ground surface indicators for the vision impaired - TGSI s ) - Hazard, studded profile - Directional, ribbed profile 1. IMPORTANT NOTE It is strongly recommended that floor coverings are not installed in direct sunlight as like all materials they expand and contract with temperature. Once adhered properly, Comcork Floor coverings exhibit excellent stability. Due to the natural characteristics of cork used in the manufacture of Comcork Flooring, some slight variation in shade and texture between sheets may occur. The manufacturer recommends that possible shade variation and texture match is checked before bonding more than one sheet in an adjacent area. 2. Experienced Contractors & Relevant Standards Installation should be carried out by a fully experienced contractor. The installer shall be experienced and conversant with all aspects of the floorcovering trade. He should be familiar with the preparation and treatment of all sub-floors, underlays troweled and rigid, adhesives storage and application. It is also desirable that he be aware of the various installation instructions as recommended by flooring manufacturer, adhesive manufacturers and the Australian Standard "Laying of Resilient Sheet & Tile Floor Coverings".

3 3. Subfloors Comcork Flooring is suitable for installing on level, clean and dry sub - floors including concrete, trowelable underlay, hardboard underlays, marine plywood, aluminium, steel and fibreglass. All of these must comply with the minimum requirements of A.S Sub-floors must be clean, dust free, dry, smooth and hard before laying. Uneven solid or timber sub-floors may need preparation to meet the required standard. The nominated contractor is responsible for the inspection, moisture testing and the required preparation of the sub-floor prior to the installation of Comcork Flooring Products. 3.1 Concrete Sub - Floors Concrete sub - floors must be dry, level, rigid, smooth, clean,( free of wax, oil, paint, alkali) and free of hydrostatic pressure (refer to A.S for definitions). Concrete in contact with fill, hardcore or ground, must have a suitable impermeable membrane underneath to prevent ingress of moisture. Concrete must be thoroughly cured, dry, and free of any curing agents. All concrete sub-floors shall be subjected to a sheer testing procedure to test the suitability of the surface to accept the adhesive bonding of the floorcoverings. Concrete sub-floors should be tested for moisture using only a certified apparatus to accurately determine the level of moisture within the subfloor. A written record of all moisture tests shall be carefully maintained in chronological order and be available for inspection if required. Concrete sub-floors must be free of moisture prior to installation, otherwise proper adhesion will not be achieved. 3.2 Timber Sub - Floors Ensure adequate sub-floor ventilation All new work shall comply with the relevant standards, in particular timber flooring as in A.S Part 1 Section 3. Particleboard A.S Part 1, Plywood AS 2098 Part 1.

4 It is recommended that all timber floors old or new be level sanded and that hardboard underlay be fixed as recommended by the hardboard manufacturer. 3.3 Particle Board Sub - Floors ( Not exposed to weather elements ) Particle board floors should be level sanded and hardboard underlay be fixed as recommended by the hardboard manufacturer The floor should not be fixed directly to the particle board as this is likely to result in show through of particleboard seams and possible damage to floorcovering if particle board expands and contracts. 3.4 Steel, Aluminum, Fibreglass Sub - Floors Substrates must be clean, dry, freeof grease, oil and other contaminants. The surfaces should be fully abraded to allow adhesive keying. 4. Under - Floor Heating Where sub-floors incorporate under-floor heating. (Typically refers to concrete floors that have heating coils laid directly into the concrete.) 4.1 Existing Floors Acrylic Adhesive Installation (a) Heating should be turned off 48 hours prior to installation to allow the slab enough time to totally cool down. (b) Heating must remain off, for 7 days after installation. (c) After 7 days the temperature should then be increased progressively over the next 7 days to its normal operating high Epoxy & Polyurethane Adhesive Installation (a) Heating should be turned off 48 hours prior to installation to allow the slab enough time to totally cool down. (b) Heating must remain off, for 48 hours after installation. (c) After 48 hours the temperature should then be increased progressively over the next 48 hours to its normal operating high. 4.2 New Floors Procedure is as above except that:

5 5. Adhesives Heating system should be turned on to the maximum normal operating range and kept on for 24 hours per day for 7 days prior to the heating being switched off for 48 hours. Comcork Flooring must be installed with an approved adhesive suitable for the area and sub-floor. This adhesive must be applied in strict accordance to the manufacturer s recommended instructions. Refer to the Appendix for a list of approved adhesives. The adhesives must be spread with a 1.6 mm V notched trowel. It is recommended that a new trowel blade be used with each installation as the amount and spread of glue will change significantly with continued use of a worn trowel. Having the correct adhesive coverage and ensuring that good transference has been achieved to the back of the flooring material is critical in achieving a successful installation 5.1 Primers In some circumstances it may be necessary to apply a primer before the adhesive. The primer is used on substrates to help settle dust, reduce adhesive dispersing into the sub-floor, increasing bond strength and spread rates. Consult your local distributor for further advice. The primer may be spread with a short nap roller or 1.6 mm V notched trowel in accordance with the manufacturers instructions Note: Primers are for use with water based and acrylic based adhesives only. Epoxy and Polyurethane adhesives do not normally require floor priming. 6. Installation 6.1 Site Acclimatisation All flooring products should be removed from packaging and stored flat for at least 24 hours prior to being installed. This will allow the material to acclimatise to site conditions. 6.2 Dry Laying - Assessing for colour and textural variation As with all natural cork products, some variation in colour may occur. Comcork Flooring MUST BE dry laid so that any possible shade variation and texture match is checked and rectified before bonding

6 6.3 Ashlar Pattern Comcork Flooring MUST BE laid in an ashlar pattern (see below). Always ensure necessary allowance, for trimming - add approximately 5cm. Only cut flooring to finished size immediately before placing into wet adhesive film. 6.4 Butt Joints Comcork Flooring should be laid end to end to ensure a close butt joint is achieved. For optimum results these joins should be taped together using an appropriate masking tape, especially when using epoxy/polyurethane adhesives which have no initial tack. Remove the masking tape immediately after the adhesive has cured (no longer than 24hrs after installation). Do not push the joins in too tightly as this can cause peaking. 6.5 Rolling Progressively roll the floor with a 3 sectioned roller as the floor is laid. Laying must be followed by careful rolling with a 35-45kg multi-wheel roller to ensure the exclusion of air and to achieve proper transfer of the adhesive on to the back of the material, providing maximum bond to the sub - floor. Do not leave heavy objects on the floor for at least 24 hours after installation. 6.6 Removing Excessive Adhesive Excess adhesive must be removed immediately from the surface of the floor before curing using clean damp cloth (water only). Trying to remove adhesive, once cured, is most likely to cause damage to the flooring surface. If adhesive has been left to cure on the surface aggressive rubbing must be avoided. Use a damp cloth and try to peel the adhesive away from the surface. 6.7 Installation using Epoxy or Polyurethane Adhesive All substrates must be clean, dry, free of grease, oil and other contaminants. Steel, Aluminum, Fiberglass and other very smooth surfaces should be abraded as required before applying epoxy adhesive.

7 Mixing and application of two part epoxy adhesive must be strictly as specified by the adhesive manufacturer. The adhesive must be spread with a 1.6mm V notched trowel and the flooring laid into the wet film of adhesive. Note: Epoxy and Polyurethane adhesive does not possess wet or dry tack properties - it relies upon the thickness of adhesive film to hold down the material. Should the material not lay flat (e.g. peaking edges) then assistance must be given by holding down the edges with weights until partial cure of the adhesive has taken place. This also applies to areas around waste drains which are normally graded down towards the drain. It is normal to weight these with a sand bag ( bag filled with loose sand ) until the adhesive has cured. Excess adhesive must be removed immediately from the surface of the floor before curing using a damp clean cloth (water only). Excess adhesive once set, cannot be easily removed, and in trying to remove, will most likely to cause damage to the floor surface 7. Adhesive Bonding Time 7.1 Acrylic Adhesive Floor traffic should be avoided ideally for 24 hours but for a minimum 12 hours after installation. 7.2 Epoxy or Polyurethane Adhesive Floor traffic should be avoided ideally for 48 hours but for a minimum 24 hours after installation. 8. Point Loading Comcork Flooring is extremely durable and will easily withstand significant load bearing impact. However excessive localised point loading such as: stiletto heels and small footed items of furniture( e.g. stools, benches or tables with very small legs ) - are likely to damage the floor. Appropriate protective load spreading caps should always be applied. 9. Sharp Objects

8 Care should be taken to protect the floor from sharp objects such as metal stools and table legs. These should always have appropriate protective caps. 10. Seam Sealing Because of the unique composition of Comcork Flooring, thermoplastic welding is not suitable. For certain installations it may be necessary to seam weld the joints using a cold weld, such as in areas where a high standard of hygiene is required. The delivery of seam sealer should be of a design to allow maximum sealer into the joint so that the two vertical faces of each adjoining sheet are sufficiently coated to form an impermeable link. Refer to the Appendix for a list of recommended Seam sealers 11. Protecting the Floor After Laying Once installation is complete the finished floor should be protected from damage during any further stages of construction by laying a non- abrasive protective covering. Heavy objectives Heavy objects should never be dragged across the floor at any stage. 12. Maintenance & Surface Dressing A floor dressing provides an added protective coating, which helps to protect the floor from dirt and grit, enhancing its appearance and making the floor much easier to maintain. Dressings are formulated to maximise durability and resistance to scuffing. Comcork Flooring should always be sealed unless in a wet area application or where maximum slip resistance is required.* An effective maintenance program is necessary to help preserve the appearance, durability and safety of Comcork Flooring. The level of maintenance required will vary according to the amount and type of foot traffic and other site conditions. For information on how to best maintain Comcork Flooring refer to the Comcork Flooring Maintenance Program (available from the Comcork Distributor in each state).

9 (*Sealing will significantly affect the wet anti- slip performance. It is the responsibility of the building owner to assess the appropriate level of slip resistance in all cases)

10 13. Comcork Flooring Tactiles Comcork flooring Tactiles are special flooring tiles with a significantly raised profile designed to provide the visually impaired a warning of impending hazards or give directional guidance. Comcork Flooring Tactiles are available in two profiles - Warning of hazard indicators (Large studded profile) - Direction of travel indicators (Large ribbed pattern) Comcork Flooring Tactiles should be installed in accordance with the requirements of Australian Standards AS and the Comcork Flooring Installation Instructions - Please refer to your local distributor for detailed Comcork Tactile Installation instructions. They must be set out for different installation circumstances in the manner prescribed in The Australian Standards AS Part 4: Tactile ground surface indicators for the orientation of people with visual impairment. Comcork Tactiles are suitable for both wet and dry conditions Comcork Tactiles should be installed using the recommended adhesives as outlined in the Approved adhesives list - refer to your local distributor for detailed Comcork Tactile Installation Instructions.

11 14. Appendix 14.1 Approved Adhesives Application Substrate Recommendation Internal Concrete, Hardboard Underlay RLAPolymersPtyLtd (i.e. porous surfaces ) Polymer 265 Roberts 12 Internal Concrete, Compressed cement RLAPolymersPtyLtd or External sheet Polymer 1718 Epoxy Subject to excessive water contact Polymer 8000 PU Roberts pack PU Marpei G19 Internal / External Bitumen, Steel, Aluminum, RLAPolymersPtyLtd Fiberglass Polymer 1718 Polymer 8000 PU Roberts pack PU Marpei G19 Polyurethane is the new generation adhesive, easier to work with, more user friendly and an alternative to epoxy adhesives. Polymer 8000 and Roberts 555 two pack polyurethane adhesives are easier to mix, have a longer pot life than epoxy and are generally easier to trowel. Product Data sheets and Material Safety Data Sheets are available upon request Approved Seam Sealers RLA POLYMERS PTY LTD POLYMER 400 ROBERTS 5601

12 15 Contact Details For further information regarding the above contact the Comcork Distributor in your state: Qld - Safety Floor Aust NSW - Safety Flooring Vic - Comcork Flooring Tas - Tas Furnishings SA - DE Seal & Sons WA - Classic Flooring For information regarding adhesives or seam sealer contact RLA Polymers Pty Ltd 215 Colchester Rd Kilsyth, Victoria, 3137 Ph: Fax: info@rlapolymers.com.au Qld NSW, ACT, SA, NT Vic, Tas